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Sheri Conrad, physical education teacher at Winton Woods Elementary School, has heard every reason a student could have for coming to class without gym shoes. “They tell me, ‘I forgot it was P.E. day,’ or ‘I had to sleep at Grandma’s house last night,’ or ‘I don’t have any gym shoes,’” said Conrad. “So I like to have shoes available for a student to keep or borrow.”

Jermaine Hill, assistant chief for the Forest Park Fire Department, visits the school often and is always looking for ways to help. Sometimes that’s by encouraging students to stay fit with the “Firefighter Fitness Drills” he runs, and other times it’s just through tips on eating healthy snacks. “He is always trying,” said Conrad.

So when Hill noticed the shoes that Conrad had available for students were old and a bit worn out, he did what he does best—help. Hill, known to students as “Firefighter J,” enlisted the aid of Forest Park Police Officer Rebecca Eavers, to help carry out his idea. Both Hill and Eavers belong to Forest Park WeTHRIVE!, which is part of the Hamilton County WeTHRIVE! initiative to make healthy living easier. The Forest Park organization put on a dance and raised over $800.

“With those funds they bought shoes not only for the elementary school but the intermediate school as well,” said Conrad. “Now when a student comes in and doesn’t have shoes and needs the community’s help, it will be there. This is thanks to the amazing love and caring of people like Firefighter J and Officer Eavers.”